Mail-box.



No. 885,460. PATENTED APR. 21, 1908.

S. J. PELKNOR.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1901.

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PATBNTED APR. 21, 1908.

S. J. FELKNOR.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION IILED AP}'3..13,1907.

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Wit" mow SAMUEL J. FELKNOR, OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE.

MAIL-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 21, 1908.

Application filed April 13, 1907. SerialNo. 367,992.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. FELKNOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morristown, in the county of Hamblen, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes, and it has particular reference to a mail box for use in the service of rural districts.

The invention resides in a box provided with different colored faces which serve as signals in accordance with some predetermined arrangement. The box is rotatably mounted on its support, and means are provided for holding the same against accidental displacement at every quarter turn whereby the signal displayed will remain constant until the position of the box is purposely changed.

In connection with a mail box of the above type, the invention aims as a primary object to provide a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the details of which will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation thereof, showing the door. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detailed elevation of the inner side of the door. Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the rotatable mount for the box. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the rotatable mount for the box.

The invention in its practical embodiment comprises a box 1 preferably having its body portion formed with three different colored sides 2, and closed by a vertical door 3, constituting a fourth side and of a different color from the other sides. The box includes a bottom 4 which centrally thereof carries a fixed plate 12 formed with a depending stub shaft 5 which is journaled in a bearing of novel construction. The latter comprises a plate 6 fixed to a stationary support such as a ate post, by means of fastening screws or other devices 7. The plate 6 is formed with a central integral disk-shaped casting 8 having recesses 9 cut thereinto from its upper edge and affording spaced vertical posts 10. The casting 8 is formed at its upper end with an integral overhanging flange 11 spanning the posts 10 and surrounding the shaft 5 as a bearing. The shaft 5 is of square flat sided contour within the casting 8, the flat faces 13 cooperating with frictional locking means. Such means is constituted of two dogs 14 having straight faced inner ends and pivoted at their outer ends as at 15 to the material of the casting 8 on each side of a determinate post 10, the recesses 9 affording a space in which the dogs 14 have movement on their pivots. Expansive coil springs 16 have their ends seated in recesses 17 in the ends of said dogs and in recesses 18 in the posts 10 on each side of the selected post above referred to. It will be apparent that flat springs may be employed instead of the coil springs arbitrarily shown. portion 13, the shaft 5 is formed with a reduced rounded end 5 which seats in a recess 6 in the plate 6 as a bearing. The door 3 has a portion at one side thereof, rolled to form a bead 19 which surrounds a hinge bolt 20 having its ends journaled in the top and bottom of the box. A portion of the material of the door is extended beyond the bead 19 to afford stop lugs 21 designed to en gage the adjacent side of the box as a stop. Coil springs 22 surround the bolt 20 and have projecting portions 23 bearing against the side of the box and against the door 3, and serving to force the latter open when the catch therefor is released. Such catch comprises a leaf spring 24 riveted to the side of the box and having an angular end 25 for engagement with a hooked lug 26 provided at the free end of the door 3. Said door is also provided with an inwardly projecting flange 27 extending around three sides thereof, and adapted to overlie the box in the closed position of the door to afford a seal against the elements. For the sake of convenience the door 3 is provided on its inner face with a pocket 28 in which are placed the letters delivered, or the letters to be mailed. Said door is also provided with a spring clip 29 for holding stamps and coins.

The bottom 4 is provided with parallel grooves 30 extending from edge to edge, and preferably of tapering contour to aflord a conductor for any water that may collect in the box in wet weather. In use,the box is Beyond the straight sided rotated to present a selected one of its colored l faces, so as to. display a predetermined signal as for example red meaning mail, white meaning no mail, green meaning special delivery, or any other meanings which may have been previously agreed upon. The box is held in any position to which it may be set by means of the dogs 14 which frictionally engage the flat faces 13 of the shaft 5, though not with sufficient force to prevent manual movement of the box.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and efficient means are provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention, but,while the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

l/Vhat is claimed, is

1. In a device of the type set forth, a fixed plate, a casting thereon including vertical posts arranged in spaced relation and an overhanging flange having a central opening, a box, a plate secured to said box and bearing upon said flange, a shaft depending from said last named plate and passing through said opening, a dog pivoted to one of said posts, said shaft having a flat-sided portion for engagement by said dog and a spring interposed between the free end of said dog and the other of said posts to hold said dog against said flatsided faces as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the type set forth a fixed plate, a disk-shaped casting thereon, a box, a shaft depending therefrom and projecting into said casting, said shaft having flat faces, and pivoted spring-pressed dogs in said casting designed to frictionally engage said flat faces.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. FELKNOR.

l/Vitnesses:

I. A. LANE, J. 0. RICE. 

